Pittsburgh will host America’s best 40 and older Milers on Friday, August 9; Masters prize purse exceeds $8000

PITTSBURGH – (May 21, 2013) – The City of Champions is adding one more to its list – the 2013 USA Masters 1 Mile Road Championship to be contested at the GNC Live Well Liberty Mileon Friday, August 9. The Pittsburgh Three Rivers Marathon, Inc. is looking forward to hosting the nation’s top 40 and older runners as they take to the streets of downtown Pittsburgh. This is the first time since 1989 that the USA Masters 1 Mile Road Championship has been held.

“We expect the caliber of our event and depth of our prize purse to attract world class Masters runners and also to produce some exciting racing,” said Race Director Patrice Matamoros. “There is no better place to become a champion than Pittsburgh.”

The GNC Live Well Liberty Mile boasts one of the top three largest prize purses for the distance in the country with $31,100 in prize money. More than $8000 in prize money will be awarded at the national Masters championship with overall, individual, club and age-graded prize money available. The USA Masters champion per gender will take home $600.

The fast, flat, point-to-point course is USATF-certified, and the 2013 event is also the 11th stop on the 14-event inauguralBring Back the Mile Tour. In 2012, the GNC Live Well Liberty Mile had a successful debut and attracted 850-plus finishers in the 6-waves with runners ranging from beginners to professional sub-4:00 minute Milers.

Last year, Sonja Friend-Uhl, 41, won the Women’s Masters division in a time of 4 minutes, 47 seconds, cracking into the top 10 overall female finishers, while William Zink, 51, took home the Men’s Masters title in a time of 4:56.4.

As the race nears, the Open and Masters fields will be announced, and for more information about the 2013 USA Masters 1 Mile Road Championships, visit LibertyMile.org.

About Pittsburgh Three Rivers Marathon, Inc.
Pittsburgh Three Rivers Marathon, Inc. is a non-profit organization that promotes the love of long-distance running and enhances community involvement in fitness activities through high quality events, such as the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon and GNC Live Liberty Mile, that are open to a wide variety of ages and ability levels.